A Journey of Self-Discovery and Reinvention
Jennie Garth, the actress best known for her role as Kelly Taylor on Beverly Hills, 90210, has opened up about her personal struggles with body image and the impact of her career on her self-perception. In her new memoir, I Choose Me: Chasing Joy, Finding Purpose and Embracing Reinvention, Garth reflects on how playing a character whose looks were constantly scrutinized led to a deep-seated body dysmorphia.
Garth, now 54, admitted that while she had a healthy self-image in her early years, the pressures of her role on the show changed her perspective. She described how the storyline of Kelly Taylor — a character who often felt insecure about her appearance — began to influence her own thoughts and feelings about herself.
The Influence of Role and Environment
Garth explained that the environment on set played a significant role in shaping her self-perception. She felt judged based on her appearance and outfits, often internally comparing herself to her costars or guest stars. This competitive atmosphere made her seek approval from the male leads and worry about being noticed.
“I was a young girl and I wanted approval from Luke [Perry], Jason [Jason Priestley], Brian [Austin Green] and Ian [Ziering], and I felt competitive with other young women,” she wrote. “I worried when I wasn’t getting noticed.”
The messages on the show — whether in the script or in her head — began to blur the line between character and self. Garth found herself facing harsh judgments and struggling to maintain her mental health.
Plastic Surgery and Changing Beauty Standards
Garth also discussed the impact of 90s beauty standards on her decisions. She described how a ‘healthy, normal body’ with ‘curves, hips and a butt’ went from feeling like ‘assets’ to ‘problems I needed to fix.’ This shift in perception led her to consider plastic surgery.
She decided to get a breast augmentation following her first pregnancy and after seeing other actresses do the same. Garth noted that these actresses carried themselves with a new kind of energy, a little more self-assuredness. She believed that this was just what you did at a certain age.
In addition to the breast augmentation, Garth underwent liposuction on her hips to ‘smooth me out’ and ‘make me smaller.’ Her goal was to disappear into the version of beauty that was being sold to all of us at the same time: small, effortless, waif-like.
The Aftermath and Reflections
Garth emphasized that no one she worked with on the show made her feel like she needed to get surgery, and she didn’t tell them about it — though she acknowledged that people noticed. She described the feeling as addictive, highlighting the pressure to conform to societal expectations.
“I wanted to disappear into the version of beauty that was being sold to all of us at the same time,” she continued. “And I thought if I could just carve myself into that image, maybe I’d finally feel like enough.”
Her journey through the world of entertainment and the pressures of fame have shaped her into the person she is today. Through her memoir, Garth aims to inspire others to embrace their own unique paths and find joy in self-acceptance.
